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Thread started 01/08/18 12:58pm

StrangeButTrue

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Confirmed: Me'shell Ndegeocello covers Prince on new album

No release date but I am getting really hyped about some of these versions... Private Dancer? Waterfalls? This should be some strange, indeed.

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http://www.thekurlandagen...egeocello/

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There are albums dedicated to personal pain, or political protest, love, death, nostalgia, rage. There are those that are simply fun, glossy, the soundtrack to a good time. Some are exploratory, a musical journey, shapeshifting soundmaking, a new way to do an old thing. An artist can make a choice about concept and content, or heed a vision, follow their muse or their manager. But in times so extreme and overwhelming, when there is no known expression for the feeling, no satisfactory direction for art or action, then they might take refuge in a process, a ritual, something familiar, the shape and sound of which recall another time altogether, so that they can weather the present long enough to call it the past. Some albums are testimony, some confessions, and some are escape. “Ventriloquism”, the latest album from MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO, is a place, like its process, to take refuge from one storm too many.

if it was just a dream, call me a dreamer 2
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Reply #1 posted 01/08/18 4:26pm

StrangeButTrue

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Several tour dates are listed on the above link.
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Musically, Ventriloquism has the hallmarks of all of Ndegeocello’s work, lush and investigative, subversive and sublime. As always, she pays tribute to her diverse influences and in these eleven covers, we hear them layered over one another. Ndegeocello filters “Tender Love” through a folky, Californian filter and brings Vaudevillian accents to “Sensitivity”. She recreates Smooth Operator in five, and turns “Private Dancer” into a sultry waltz. The reimagining affords not just a new musical experience but also a comment on the narrow expectations of sounds and structures for black artists and black music.
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“Early on in my career, I was told to make the same kind of album again and again, and when I didn’t do that, I lost support. There isn’t much diversity within genres, which are ghettoizing themselves, and I liked the idea of turning hits I loved into something even just a little less familiar or formulaic. It was an opportunity to pay a new kind of tribute.”
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This album was recorded in Los Angeles with the familiar family of partners and players that Meshell has worked with for years. Chris Bruce plays guitar, Abraham Rounds is on drums, Jebin Bruni co-produced the album and plays keys. S. Husky Huskolds engineered while Pete Min mixed and mastered. Lasting and collaborative relationships with her fellow musicians is among the most important parts of music making for Meshell, prompting her to say on more than one occasion: “Meshell Ndegeocello is a band”.
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Some tracks were selected for their reflections: The album opens with “I Wonder If I Take You Home”, which marked the early influence of Prince and Hip Hop on commercial pop, and was a reference for Ndegeocello’s own “If Thats Your Boyfriend”. Constantly asked to be “funky”, Meshell includes “Atomic Dog” as a reminder that the heart of funk is ineffable and irreverent, not just acted in showy flourishes, slaps, or noodling. Other songs offered an outlet for plain emotional truths: “Waterfalls” was stripped down, and delivered as an honest and needed personal lament. “Sometimes It Snows In April” has an extended intro, an accidental result of the band’s desire to delay the new and inevitable sadness of the song. “Funny How Time Flies” approaches sarcasm in its ominous and lonely sounds, exemplifying how these times – personally for Meshell, politically for many – are neither flying nor fun.
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“The year around the recording of this album was so disorienting and dispiriting for me personally and for so many people I know and spoke to all the time. I looked for a way to make something that was light while things around me were so dark, a musical place to go that reminded me of another, brighter time.”
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A final note to the listener, Meshell chose art for the album package that hints at what’s inside: A graphic V, a hidden M, the artwork is symbolic, sexy, and calls on the language of protest of the era these songs were mined from. With no words or pictures, the artwork is itself a declaration that even when you cannot imagine what to say, if you come together to create, you can find transformation and reinvention, the old can become new, today can become tomorrow.
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A portion of the profits from this album will be donated to the American Civil Liberties Union.
if it was just a dream, call me a dreamer 2
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Reply #2 posted 01/08/18 5:13pm

KoolEaze

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I´m curious to hear I Wonder If I Take You Home.

" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #3 posted 01/08/18 5:13pm

Germanegro

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Thanks for sharing this announcement, StrangeButTrue. I look forward to a new Me'shell album. I think she does a great job with covers--really takes ahold of the material and puts something on to enhance the spirit of the song. From the description of what we can look forward to it seems as though this could be an album for all seasons and spirits and certainly a distraction from what's going on in the wide world.

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Reply #4 posted 01/08/18 7:29pm

datdude

couldn't find the track listing on the link...oh well. looks interesting for sure

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Reply #5 posted 01/10/18 10:12am

namepeace

The release was supposed to be in November. Any updates?

Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016

Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder
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Reply #6 posted 01/11/18 6:58am

Slave2daGroove

She still owes me $100 for a show where she practiced with a new band with her back on the audience.

New album Me'Shell? finger

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Reply #7 posted 01/11/18 7:58am

KoolEaze

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Slave2daGroove said:

She still owes me $100 for a show where she practiced with a new band with her back on the audience.

New album Me'Shell? finger

I heard that she often does that because people take pictures of her even though she is strictly against it, and she risks seizures because of that.

" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #8 posted 01/11/18 9:11am

Germanegro

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KoolEaze said:

Slave2daGroove said:

She still owes me $100 for a show where she practiced with a new band with her back on the audience.

New album Me'Shell? finger

I heard that she often does that because people take pictures of her even though she is strictly against it, and she risks seizures because of that.

Sometimes you have to roll with whatever energy the musician is bringing to the stage. For the artists, they have to roll with whatever energy the audience is bringing to the show, too. I imagine that there could have been quite a few guests with their camera phones up and running through the show with that being a distraction to her. A musician might be a showboat and not even care, but then you have Me'Shell. Venues don't give refunds, except maybe for no-shows. Me'shell might give you a discount, tho'--LOL.

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Reply #9 posted 01/11/18 9:28am

StrangeButTrue

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I remember once convincing a good pal to attend a Me'shell show in Brooklyn. I told her it would be an evening of melodic R&B, thrilling solos, and soothing vocals. We found instead a dark, almost heavy metal vibe and heavier versions of songs like the unreleased "Point Of No Return" and "Die Alone". Needless to say she was a bit surprised by this type of music but her feedback was that despite my description she was impressed with the musicians and the incredibly different direction. I didn't know any of the song names, lyrics, etc. at that point and was definitely confused. But that shit was rockin' whatever it was. You're not gonna hear what u expect at a Me'shell show, ain't nothing wrong with that.

if it was just a dream, call me a dreamer 2
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Reply #10 posted 01/11/18 10:17am

OldFriends4Sal
e

KoolEaze said:

Slave2daGroove said:

She still owes me $100 for a show where she practiced with a new band with her back on the audience.

New album Me'Shell? finger

I heard that she often does that because people take pictures of her even though she is strictly against it, and she risks seizures because of that.

Yes, this is true, I was at a show and it was even on Youtube, where she had a female dancer out (into the audience) and she was promoting her 4th album, people were taking photos and she asked them not to, and you could tell it was affecting her.

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Reply #11 posted 01/11/18 12:08pm

namepeace

StrangeButTrue said:

I remember once convincing a good pal to attend a Me'shell show in Brooklyn. I told her it would be an evening of melodic R&B, thrilling solos, and soothing vocals. We found instead a dark, almost heavy metal vibe and heavier versions of songs like the unreleased "Point Of No Return" and "Die Alone". Needless to say she was a bit surprised by this type of music but her feedback was that despite my description she was impressed with the musicians and the incredibly different direction. I didn't know any of the song names, lyrics, etc. at that point and was definitely confused. But that shit was rockin' whatever it was. You're not gonna hear what u expect at a Me'shell show, ain't nothing wrong with that.


True, SBT.

Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016

Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder
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Reply #12 posted 01/11/18 1:28pm

Slave2daGroove

Germanegro said:

KoolEaze said:

I heard that she often does that because people take pictures of her even though she is strictly against it, and she risks seizures because of that.

Sometimes you have to roll with whatever energy the musician is bringing to the stage. For the artists, they have to roll with whatever energy the audience is bringing to the show, too. I imagine that there could have been quite a few guests with their camera phones up and running through the show with that being a distraction to her. A musician might be a showboat and not even care, but then you have Me'Shell. Venues don't give refunds, except maybe for no-shows. Me'shell might give you a discount, tho'--LOL.


I respect musicians but if she's going to practice, the people who paid $50 a ticket should know that.

I'm not sure if she thinks she's Miles Davis or what. At least he had musicians with talent and the skills to back it up. This was a waste of time and money and nobody was taking pictures.

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Reply #13 posted 01/11/18 1:44pm

StrangeButTrue

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If you're in it for pictures maybe Me'shell isn't the artist for ya cool that seizure risk has been well-known amongst fans for decades now. Even at Cookie shows she had her back turned and cellphones weren't the standard at that point in time.

if it was just a dream, call me a dreamer 2
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Reply #14 posted 01/11/18 4:49pm

morningsong

She don't like Cali?

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Reply #15 posted 01/11/18 6:21pm

OldFriends4Sal
e

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Reply #16 posted 01/11/18 7:07pm

OldFriends4Sal
e

StrangeButTrue said:

I remember once convincing a good pal to attend a Me'shell show in Brooklyn. I told her it would be an evening of melodic R&B, thrilling solos, and soothing vocals. We found instead a dark, almost heavy metal vibe and heavier versions of songs like the unreleased "Point Of No Return" and "Die Alone". Needless to say she was a bit surprised by this type of music but her feedback was that despite my description she was impressed with the musicians and the incredibly different direction. I didn't know any of the song names, lyrics, etc. at that point and was definitely confused. But that shit was rockin' whatever it was. You're not gonna hear what u expect at a Me'shell show, ain't nothing wrong with that.

Are those two songs out there somewhere? I've never heard

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Reply #17 posted 01/11/18 7:42pm

StrangeButTrue

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There are definitely HQ live recordings of Point Of No Return out there on the interwebs, I found one way back when. Maybe with another title? I haven't heard it recently but the prominent lyric is "forgive me... Before I reach the point of no return". A lot of what I heard that night I have not heard on an album tbh. To clarify, I mistakenly said Die Alone which is a rock track Meshell did with Scritti Politti when I actually meant the song Crying In Your Beer which has the chorus "don't let me die alone". She fascinates me, there are only a few songs she has ever released that I haven't just loved so hard.
I would be surprised if this album never surfaced and I hope it's a solid piece that fits with her great collection of work. It's nice to see her get some mainstream cred nowadays doing the music and theme song for Oprah's hit show Queen Sugar. She even "raps" basically on the theme song which she hasn't really done on a record in years despite folks wanting her do "do the old stuff".
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Reply #18 posted 01/12/18 5:15am

StrangeButTrue

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Ventriloquism is to be released March 16 according to Meshell's social media.
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Reply #19 posted 01/12/18 6:53am

Mindbells9

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StrangeButTrue said:

I remember once convincing a good pal to attend a Me'shell show in Brooklyn. I told her it would be an evening of melodic R&B, thrilling solos, and soothing vocals. We found instead a dark, almost heavy metal vibe and heavier versions of songs like the unreleased "Point Of No Return" and "Die Alone". Needless to say she was a bit surprised by this type of music but her feedback was that despite my description she was impressed with the musicians and the incredibly different direction. I didn't know any of the song names, lyrics, etc. at that point and was definitely confused. But that shit was rockin' whatever it was. You're not gonna hear what u expect at a Me'shell show, ain't nothing wrong with that.

I convinced my wife to come with me to see her last year at an outdoor concert here in Detroit. I've seen her in concert 6 times, so I know enough to not go to her show and hope that she plays everything you want to hear. I told my wife to not have any expectations and just enjoy the music because if she went in with any preconcieved notions, she'd be disappointed. Well, not only was my wife upset and thought that her performance sucked, but most of the crowd started leaving after only about 20 minutes. She wasn't performing her most well known and loved material. In fact, outside of "Grace", "Rapid Fire", "Article 3", and "Shopping For Jazz", her set was mainly covers with an empasis on her Nina Simone record. I too would've loved to hear some of my favorite songs of hers, but because I know how Meshell can be, I just enjoyed the vibe, the musicianship, and had a great time! My wife? Not so much lol

The next day, people were on facebook complaining that this was the worst concert they've ever been to.

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Reply #20 posted 01/12/18 7:49am

StrangeButTrue

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Its interesting, people clamor for the "old stuff" and "the hits" like what? "Outside Your Door" which must be a bit painful to perform after Brian McKnight jacked it, the crass/polarizing/sad "Leviticus Faggot" and unashamed "If Thats Your Boyfriend" then what? Otherwise its covers "Who Is He" "Love You Down" even "Poison Ivy"? A solo version of "Wild Night"? Lol. As some one said above she is not Miles Davis but she is likely one of the closest living artists in terms of scope and variety. If you're looking to hear Plantation Lullabies go to a Madonna show and see if she does Shoo Be Doo or a Janet show to see if she does Diamonds. Different time, different place, different era, different character basically. In a way she experiences a microcosm of what Prince must have endured with folks always wanting Purple Rain cuts despite the beautiful more relevant newer stuff.

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Reply #21 posted 01/12/18 9:11am

purplepolitici
an

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She's hot.

For all time I am with you, you are with me.
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Reply #22 posted 01/12/18 9:33am

TrivialPursuit

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Confirmed track list:

Ventriloquism Track List

1. Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam feat. Full Force – "I Wonder if I Take You Home"
2. Al B. Sure! – "Nite and Day"
3. Prince – "Sometimes it Snows in April"
4. TLC – "Waterfalls"
5. George Clinton – "Atomic Dog 2017"
6. Ralph Tresvant – "Sensitivity"
7. Janet Jackson – "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)"
8. Force MDs – "Tender Love"
9. The System – "Don't Disturb This Groove"
10. Tina Turner – "Private Dancer"
11. Sade – "Smooth Operator"

Ndegeocello puts a unique yet faithful spin on Prince's Parade ballad, opening her version with a rumbling tangle of bass and guitar that delicately unravels into the melody. Ndegeocello delivers an enthralling vocal performance, with her rich voice jumping between registers as each resonant syllable rounded off with a hush.
"I had to make something of him, for him," Ndegeocello tells Rolling Stone of her Prince cover. "I've made so much because of him. I still can't believe he's not on the planet and this was as close to closure as I'd get."

____________

"Sometimes It Snows In April" and Force MDs "Tender Love" clips are behind the source link above. The former is a Soundcloud clip, the latter from YouTube.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #23 posted 01/12/18 9:36am

TrivialPursuit

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"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #24 posted 01/12/18 10:00am

StrangeButTrue

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Yay today is like mini-Christmas.

[Edited 1/12/18 10:00am]

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Reply #25 posted 01/12/18 10:00am

Cinny

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TrivialPursuit said:

Confirmed track list:

Ventriloquism Track List

1. Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam feat. Full Force – "I Wonder if I Take You Home"
2. Al B. Sure! – "Nite and Day"
3. Prince – "Sometimes it Snows in April"
4. TLC – "Waterfalls"
5. George Clinton – "Atomic Dog 2017"
6. Ralph Tresvant – "Sensitivity"
7. Janet Jackson – "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)"
8. Force MDs – "Tender Love"
9. The System – "Don't Disturb This Groove"
10. Tina Turner – "Private Dancer"
11. Sade – "Smooth Operator"

Ndegeocello puts a unique yet faithful spin on Prince's Parade ballad, opening her version with a rumbling tangle of bass and guitar that delicately unravels into the melody. Ndegeocello delivers an enthralling vocal performance, with her rich voice jumping between registers as each resonant syllable rounded off with a hush.
"I had to make something of him, for him," Ndegeocello tells Rolling Stone of her Prince cover. "I've made so much because of him. I still can't believe he's not on the planet and this was as close to closure as I'd get."

____________

"Sometimes It Snows In April" and Force MDs "Tender Love" clips are behind the source link above. The former is a Soundcloud clip, the latter from YouTube.



This is totally some org schitt.

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Reply #26 posted 01/12/18 10:06am

StrangeButTrue

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I loves it!!! Now I want Me'shell to do the Tina Turner tribute for the Grammy Lifetime Achievement award. Hell the academy should let Me'shell curate the whole thing like they did that one time for Ellen's Grammy Song with Chaka Khan. That shit was funky.

if it was just a dream, call me a dreamer 2
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Reply #27 posted 01/12/18 10:32am

TrivialPursuit

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Cinny said:


This is totally some org schitt.


Hey, don't shoot the messenger. I just cut n' pasted! hahaha

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #28 posted 01/12/18 2:57pm

morningsong

Just listened to the link on RS. I absolutely loved it.

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Reply #29 posted 01/12/18 3:36pm

Graycap23

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FOOLS multiply when WISE Men & Women are silent.
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